Apparatus for piano playing in any key, for writing music, and for transposing musicfrom one key to another



R. H. WENCIL May 25, 1965 3,185,015 FOR WRITING MUSIC, AND

APPARATUS FOR PIANO PLAYING IN ANY KEY.

FOR TRANSPOSING MUSIC FROM ONE KEY TO ANOTHER Filed 001'.. 1, 1962 United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR PIANO PLAYING IN ANY KEY, FOR WRITING MUSIC, AND FOR TRANSPOSING MUSIC FROM ONE KEY TO ANOTHER Raymond Henry Wencil, 2904 N. Keating Ave., Chicago 41, Ill. Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. N0. 227,278 1 Claim. (Cl. 234-478) The present invention relates to apparatus for piano playing in any key, for writing music, and for transposing music from one key to another, and is particularly concerned with methods and apparatus for enabling those who are unfamiliar with music or with the piano to play the piano within a minimum amount of instruction.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for numbering the keys of a piano and for indicating the number of each key to be used in conjunction with an improved mode of Writing music and indicating the keys which are to be played simultaneously with one or the other or both hands.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved method of writing music for the piano.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved piano assembly including a numbered strip, the numbers being spaced in accordance with the spacing of all the keys of the piano which are being used and arranging the numbered strip in conjunction with the piano keys in such manner that they will indicate the numbers of the keys in accordance with written music, having the notes replaced by numbers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved method and apparatus for transposing music, which is written in the form of numbers replacing notes, which enables any player to play any music in any desired key.

Another object is the provision of an improved method and apparatus for comprising music.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompartying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a piano keyboard and a numbered strip, the numbers extending from 1 to 72 in this instance and there being a number for each white key ,and for each black key between the six octaves whice are included in the present apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a reproduction in conventional symbols of a few bars of music entitled To a Wild Rose;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary series of enlargements showing the ends of the piano keys and the numbered strips at the beginning end of the series, showing notes which are numbered l-l2, and also a series of notes at the end of the scale, comprising notes which are numbered 6l-72;

FIG. 3 also comprises an illustration of the five black keys of each octave, shown with the white keys and the sharp and flat symbols appropriate. for each black key;

FIG. 4 is a tabulation of the same music illustrated in FIG. 2, in which numbers have been substituted for the notes beside each count and illustrating on each line the notes of certain numbers that are to be played simultaneously with the left hand and the right hand or with the right hand alone.

Referring to FIG. l, this is a view in perspective of a piano keyboard assembly in which the keyboard is provided with a flexible strip 10 of cardboard or plastic or other material having suicient rigidity to stand upright and of a thin character so that it is adapted to be inserted in the crack behind the black keys in an upright condition.

This cardboard strip is provided with a continuous and CTL ICC

consecutive series of numbers from 1 to 72; and the nurnbers have been written from 1 to 12 and are actually provided throughout the full length of the strip. The intermediate numbers 24, 36, 48, and 60 merely indicate that the entire strip is to be numbered.

On a piano keyboard of standard size the black keys are approximately one-half inch in width and the rear ends of the white keys are also one-half inch in width, so that the .strips 10 may be divided into equal half inch portions, each of which bears one of the numbers from 1 to 72.

The strip may be made longer or shorter and may include a longer series of numbers or a shorter series of numbers; and the present strip is merely exemplary of one which will be of a most useful length. Each white key and each black key has its number appearing on the strip 10 behind the keys.

Referring to FIG. 2, this is an illustration of a portion of the written music, To a Wild Rose, by Edward Mac- Dowell. The written music of FIG. 2 is submitted las an example.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the preferred method of Writing the music in the form of tabulations indicating to the user the actual numbers of the notes which are to be played by the left hand and by the right hand.

On the count of one, notes Nos. 37 and 44 are to be played with the left hand and notes Nos. 49 and 53 are to be played with the right hand simultaneously. The duration of the notes, that is, the time during which they are held, depends on the type of note. The count is one, and, two, and. On the count of and, note 56 is to be played with the right hand; and on the count of two, and the note 56 is played again with the right hand.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fragmentary portion of the keyboard and strip 10 shows each note with a lead line extending to the number of the note on a larger scale than that which could be done in FIG. 1.

The second fragmentary portion of the keyboard and strip bears the numbers 61 to 72 with lead lines showing the numbers directly above the keys, with the lead lines to each key. The keys also preferably are identified by their usual letters.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lower fragmentary view shows the black keys and the letters, sharp or flat which indicate each black key.

For example, the black key at the right of C is C sharp or D at. The black key at the right of D is D sharp or E at. The black key at the right of F is F sharp or G hat. The black key at the right of G is G sharp or A flat. The black key at the right of A is A sharp of B ilat. These indicia also preferably appear on the strip 10 as a reminder to the user of the nature of the piano keyboard.

Since the piano keyboard can be divided into equal spaces registering with the numbers 1 to 72, respectively, the cardboard strip 10 bearing these numbers may be shifted longitudinally of the keyboard to any position.

Without going into the number of flats and Sharps in any particular keyboard, the present appara-tus is adapted to enable the player to play in any key. For instance, the number 1 is shown in registry with the note C; but if the user desires to play in a higher key, the strip 10 may be slid to the right; and the numbers will then be applied to other keys. If the No. 1 is placed behind C sharp, the numbers are then transposed to such a position that the music may be played in the key of C sharp.

Thus the same numbers on the numerical tabulation may be used to play .the music in question in any key from C to B, including the Sharps and flats.

The tabulation of the music should also preferably include an indication of the key in which the music was originally written.

In utilizing the present keyboard assembly the player visualizes the notes to be played on count 1, nds the notes numbered thereon, and places his lingers of the left hand and of the right hand in position on 'the keys. Thereupon the player plays all the notes of count 1 simultaneously and continues to play the notes for either hand one after another, as shown in the tabulation.

My apparatus includes the assembly of the keyboard with the numbered strip and the tabulation of the music including the numbers of the notes to be played on each count.

My method includes the visualization of the numbers under each count, finding the correspondingly numbered keys, and the playing of the keys on each count, as indicated.

My method also permits the playing of any particular piece of music in any key by merely placing No. 1 in registry with the key in which the user desires to play the selection. The transportation of the music from one key to another may be accomplished by shitting the series of numbers from any position to a specic position in which No. ll is behind the key in which the user desires to play the selection.

Thus a great deal of labor involved in transposing music may be avoided; and the user is enabled by the present method and apparatus to play any selection in any key. Much time and study which is otherwise involved in learning music and keyboards and practice may be eliminated by the present apparatus and method; and the users of this apparatus and method may proceed at once to the pleasurable playing of the music according to the tabulations provided.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

An apparatus for facilitating the playing of a piano in any desired key; comprising a sheet of music having suora the music count designated in successive series of numbers, and arranged in columns numbered consecutively, said sheet having a column for the right hand notes and a column for the left hand notes Ito be played at each count, the said right hand notes and left hand notes being designated by one or more numbers opposite each number for each music coun-t to be played simultaneously at each count and the numbers of the notes to be played, being the note numbers of a consecutive series of numbers beginning at number one at the left end, which appear on an elongated strip of material, adapted to be inserted on the keyboard of a piano, in the crack behind the black keys on top the rear portion of the white keys, in a vertical position, the said strip bearing on its front side, a number in series of consecutive numbers beginning with number one, for each White key, and a number for each black key in consecutive order in the series on said strip, the spacing between the numbers and the spacing of the black keys and the White keys on the keyboard being approximately one-half inch space per key, so that the numbers each register with a black key and a white key, and the numbers indicate the keys of the piano of said series, the said strip being placed with the number one of said series on said strip, behind the key of the music, in which the music is to be played, and the strip being movably mounted to slide in the crack behind the black keys into any selective position to cause the number one to register with any key, automaticaly transposing the music to any desired key at which number one is located on the keyboard, to be played at that key by using the same music sheet,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,735 6/17 Force 84-478 1,646,574 10/27 Buzza SLi-483 2,221,143 11/40` Lang 84-478 2,347,950 5/44 Huish 84--478 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

